Astros shuffle several jobs in minor league system

Published 5:30 am, Friday, September 10, 2010

The Astros cut a significant swath through their minor league operation Thursday, releasing two managers, their minor league pitching coordinator and two other staff members, demoting assistant general manager Ricky Bennett and elevating former farm director Fred Nelson to new duties.

Bennett, who held the assistant GM title as director of player development, was named as director of professional scouting. Nelson, who held the latter title, takes over as director of player development in what the club described as an "extended interim basis."

The Astros also did not renew the contracts of minor league pitching coordinator Britt Burns and managers Marc Bombard, who was at Class AAA Round Rock this season, and Wes Clements, who managed the AA team at Corpus Christi. The contracts of Pete Fagan, minor league medical coordinator, and coach Pete Rancont also were not renewed.

General manager Ed Wade declined to characterize the title switches for Bennett and Nelson as promotions or demotions and said the removal of Bennett's assistant GM title was a "business card thing."

"It's two good baseball guys being asked to fulfill different responsibilities," he said. "Ricky will coordinate the pro scouting and will have major league coverage himself but oversee the assignments of our guys out there.

"Fred has been a farm director and brings a lot to the table with a different voice, and we wanted to have him come in and establish policies. There's a lot on the plate with the AAA situation (the expected defection of Round Rock to the Rangers). He has some hires to make and other things, so Fred has a full plate of responsibilities."

Houston's minor league system has been among the lowest ranked in baseball in recent years.